Month

Legacies of War: Unhealed Wounds and the Deportation of Southeast Asian Refugees

Jonathan Lam's essay published in the Southeast Asia Digital Library examines the lasting legacy of the Vietnam War and the US Secret War in Southeast Asia, particularly the extensive bombing campaigns in Laos and Cambodia. The essay explores the devastation caused by US military intervention, the refugee and deportation crisis since the fall of Saigon, and how connections to these historical patterns of US imperialism continue to shape the lives of Southeast Asian diaspora communities today.

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ASEAN Must Help to Fill the Global Leadership Vacuum to Protect its Regional Backyard

In an article by East Asia Forum, Mari Pangestu and Julia Tijaja discuss the need for ASEAN to strengthen regional resilience in light of geopolitical tensions and the negative effects of US tariffs on the region's economy. By deepening regional integration, fully implementing RCEP, coordinating and addressing reforms and priorities, ASEAN may turn these issues into an opportunity for growth and leadership.

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New Thai Prime Minister, New Prospect for Restoring Cambodia-Thailand Relations?

In an article for Cambodianess, Him Rotha and Sreng Hengsal discuss what Anutin Charnvirakul's rise as Thailand's PM means for relations with Cambodia. Despite Anutin's willingness to resolve the dispute with Cambodia through "peaceful means" several constraints remain, such as Anutin's administration only lasting four months, and the prevalence of military influence in Thailand.

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Cambodia’s New Airport Slowly Breaks a Rural Community

In an article for Mekong Independent, Phon Sothyroth brings to light the issues faced by the Canal 94 community, where residents have been fishing and farming for several decades. As Cambodia developed their new international airport, the community faced issues such as fishing grounds being cut off by construction, the lake being fenced off, and bureaucracy blocking these low-income rural residents from receiving land titles. Residents say the airport developments have left them trapped—they are unsure whether they will be evicted, but they lack money for the modern housing replacing their community.

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A Curator Flees Bangkok After China Deems His Art Show Too Provocative

In an article by The New York Times, Francesca Regalado writes about a recent museum exhibition in Thailand that criticized authoritarian governments in China, Myanmar and other countries. The curator, an artist from Myanmar, swiftly left the country from fear of being arrested and deported back to Myanmar. Chinese authorities wanted the museum to remove the names of artists from Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang, as matters in these areas were “purely China’s internal affairs.”

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